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West Bengal bans shows based on Dhananjoy case

By Malabika Bhattacharya

KOLKATA, OCT. 5. The shadow of Dhananjoy Chatterjee, whose execution by hanging on August 14 following his conviction in a rape and murder case took West Bengal by storm, still haunts the State. Late last week, the State Government formally banned the depiction of the "Dhananjoy case" in stage performances (known as jatras) after the widow of Chatterjee appealed to the authorities to spare her from the ordeal.

The State Home Secretary, Amit Kiran Deb, said it was on the basis of the appeal made by Dhananjoy Chatterjee's wife that the State Government had prohibited the staging of all shows having Chatterjee's death by hanging as the central theme. "The spate of accidental deaths of children who have tried to emulate the episode is also a reason for the banning of the shows. The humanitarian angle has been given due importance in banning such shows," the official said.

The State has also prohibited the depiction of Chatterjee's execution in any form during the Durga Puja festival.

Organisers' problems

A number of jatra organisers are facing problems with the ban order in view of the preparations already made for performances planned in the days ahead. Handbills have been distributed, posters put up and halls booked. Certain organisers are understood to have had the scripts vetted by the police.

Even so, at least one organiser is going ahead with telling Dhananjoy Chatterjee's story but only after the names have been changed and the plot suitably altered.

Earlier, stage performances depicting Osama bin Laden were banned by the authorities because of the possibility of religious sentiments being hurt.

Naxalite groups have stepped in to help find husbands for at least two girls of Dhananjoy Chatterjee's family, which has been ostracised after the execution.

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West Bengal bans shows based on Dhananjoy case

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